Speech by Deputy Prime Minister and President Singapore National Olympic Council

EVENT: THE SEA GAMES FEDERATION COUNCIL MEETINGVENUE: PALEMBANG, INDONESIADATE: 12 NOVEMBER 2011

Madam Rita Subowo, President of SEA Games Federation Council
Presidents and Council Members of our fellow National Olympic Committees from Southeast Asia.

First, let me join my colleagues in congratulating our Indonesian colleagues in INASOC for putting up a great show last night at the Opening Ceremony. I am confident that 26th SEA Games will be a successful event for Indonesia and the Southeast Asian nations.

The SEA Games hold significance for all of us. The Games were launched in 1959 with the aim of bringing the people of this region together through friendly competition in sports. Today, these games continue to forge our regional solidarity while instilling us with pride as individuals and communities.

Singapore last hosted the SEA Games in 1993. We look forward to being given the honour of hosting the Games again in 2015. 2015 will be an ideal time for us to do so. 2015 marks the 50th year of our Nationhood. The construction of the new Sports Hub in Singapore, which is now underway and progressing well, is also scheduled to be completed by April 2014, and to be fully operational in time for the SEA Games in 2015. The Singapore Government has given its full support to the Singapore National Olympic Council in its bid to host the 28th SEA Games 2015 in Singapore. As an expression of this support the Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Sports Council under the Ministry of the Community Development, Youth and Sports is present with us today – Mr Lim Teck Yin.

Singapore has hosted the SEA Games three times – in 1973, ’83 and ’93. Two weeks ago, when the intention to request our SEA Games Federation colleagues to allow us to host the 2015 Games was announced, it was widely welcomed by Singaporeans, who want to bring the Games back to our island. We would like to organise a memorable SEA Games that will bring all federations members together for a time to celebrate the sporting achievement of our athletes and the unity of our region.

Given the opportunity, we will be focused on our South East Asian athletes and aim to deepen the camaraderie among all athletes and officials from South East Asia. I thank our hosts Indonesia for their warm hospitality in hosting the 26th SEA Games and wish all of you a good SEA Games. I also wish our friends Myanmar great success in the 27th SEA Games. We look forward to being in Myanmar.

I hope the SEA Games Federation will support Singapore’s bid to host the 2015 SEA Games and give us the honour to host the prestigious SEA Games in Singapore.